Engine

Abstract

An engine has a block, an output shaft mounted to rotate within the block, a profiled cam attached to or formed integrally with the output shaft, a number of bores in the block extending in radial directions away from the output shaft, a respective reciprocating piston within each bore and defining an expansion volume within the bore at one side of the piston, a respective fixed push bar extending from each piston toward the output shaft, and inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the expansion volume. There is a valve at each inlet port, and a combustion manifold within which a pressurised fuel-air mixture ignites before entry via the inlet ports to the respective expansion volumes.

1 . An engine comprising: 
 a block,    an output shaft mounted to rotate within the block,    a profiled cam attached to or formed integrally with the output shaft,    a plurality of bores in the block extending substantially radially from the output shaft,    a respective reciprocating piston within each bore and defining an expansion volume within the bore at one side thereof,    a respective fixed push bar extending from each piston toward the output shaft and interacting with the profiled cam to effect rotation thereof, and    inlet and exhaust ports communicating with the expansion volume.    
   
   
       2 . The engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve at each inlet port.  
   
   
       3 . The engine of  claim 1 , comprising a combustion manifold within which a pressurized fuel-air mixture ignites.  
   
   
       4 . The engine of  claim 2 , further comprising a compressor for compressing an air-fuel mixture within the manifold.  
   
   
       5 . The engine of  claim 2 , further comprising ignition means for igniting a fuel-air mixture within the combustion manifold.  
   
   
       6 . The engine of  claim 4 , wherein the ignition means comprises a pilot light.  
   
   
       7 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the profiled cam comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced lobes.  
   
   
       8 . The engine of  claim 6 , wherein each lobe has a convex side and a concave side.  
   
   
       9 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the push bar is offset so as not to point directly at the output shaft.  
   
   
       10 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust ports extend from a side of each bore at a position below that at which the respective piston minimizes the expansion volume.  
   
   
       11 . The engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller at an end of each connecting rod for rolling contact with the profiled cam.  
   
   
       12 . The engine of  claim 10 , further comprising a pair of said rollers an end of each connecting rod.  
   
   
       13 . The engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a slider at an end of each connecting rod for sliding contact with the profiled cam.  
   
   
       14 . The engine of  claim 12 , further comprising a pair of sliders at an end of each connecting rod.  
   
   
       15 . The engine of  claim 4 , wherein the igniter means comprises a glow plug.  
   
   
       16 . The engine of  claim 4 , wherein the fuel/air mixture is ignited once and continues to glow so long as air and fuel is delivered to the combustion manifold.